INTRODUCTION FOR CREATIVE THINKING PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING
In today’s fast-paced and complex world, the ability to think creatively, solve problems effectively, and make sound decisions is more valuable than ever. This 2-day interactive workshop is designed to help participants unlock their creative potential, tackle challenges with confidence, and choose the best course of action in any situation.
Through a blend of hands-on activities, real-world case studies, group work, and practical tools, participants will learn how to approach problems from new angles, generate innovative ideas, and make decisions that drive meaningful results. Whether you’re a team leader, entrepreneur, student, or professional, this course will equip you with the mindset and methods to thrive in uncertainty and lead with clarity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Enhance Creative Thinking Skills:
Participants will explore and practice various creative thinking techniques to generate innovative ideas and solutions. - Understand and Apply Problem-Solving Frameworks:
Learn structured methods (like Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, and PDCA) to identify, analyze, and resolve problems effectively. - Strengthen Decision-Making Abilities:
Develop the ability to make informed, logical, and timely decisions using tools such as SWOT analysis and Decision Matrices. - Identify and Overcome Cognitive Biases:
Recognize common mental traps and biases that affect creativity and decision-making, and learn strategies to minimize their impact. - Reframe Problems to Discover Opportunities:
Practice techniques for rephrasing and redefining problems to unlock more innovative and effective solutions. - Collaborate and Communicate Ideas Effectively:
Work in teams to ideate, solve problems, and present decisions clearly, fostering collaboration and influencing outcomes.
LEARINING OUTCOMES
- Generate creative ideas using techniques like mind mapping, SCAMPER, and lateral thinking in both individual and group settings.
- Analyze problems systematically by identifying root causes and applying structured problem-solving models.
- Make informed decisions using frameworks such as decision matrices, SWOT analysis, and cost-benefit evaluations.
- Recognize and mitigate cognitive biases that impact creative thinking and decision-making processes.
- Effectively reframe challenges into opportunities through techniques like “How Might We…” and reverse thinking.
- Collaborate in teams to solve real-world problems and present clear, well-structured solutions with justifiable decision paths.
LEARINING METHODOLOGY
This course is designed as an interactive, experiential workshop to maximize participant engagement, skill application, and peer learning. The learning methodology combines multiple approaches to cater to different learning styles and ensure deep understanding and retention.
Key Components of the Workshop Methodology
- Interactive Discussions & Mini-Lectures
-
- Short, focused inputs to introduce key concepts and frameworks
- Emphasis on real-life examples and participant input to ground theory in practice
- Hands-On Group Activities
-
- Small group exercises to apply creative thinking tools and problem-solving models
- Encourages collaboration, diverse thinking, and real-time feedback
- Case Studies & Simulations
-
- Realistic business or life scenarios used to practice analysis and decision-making
- Includes structured debriefs to extract learning points
- Creative Challenges & Games
-
- Quick-fire activities and energizers to stimulate divergent thinking and innovation
- Builds a fun, open environment that supports creativity
- Self-Reflection & Personal Application
-
- Journaling, reflection prompts, and peer sharing to internalize learning
- Focus on applying concepts to personal and professional challenges
- Team Presentations & Feedback
-
- Teams present solutions to selected challenges
- Peer and facilitator feedback to enhance communication, persuasion, and clarity of thought
COURSE CONTENTS
Unlocking Creative Thinking & Structured Problem Solving
Welcome & Icebreaker
- Introduction to the course & objectives
- Creativity self-assessment activity
Session 1: Foundations of Creative Thinking
- What is creativity? Myths vs. reality
- Left vs. right brain thinking
- Divergent vs. convergent thinking
- Barriers to creativity
- Activity: “Mind Map Your Mind” – visual thinking exercise
Session 2: Creative Thinking Techniques
- Brainstorming dos and don’ts
- CREATIVE Technique
- Random word stimulation
- Reverse thinking
- Activity: Idea generation on a common business challenge using 2 techniques
Session 3: Structured Problem Solving Frameworks
- What is a problem?
- Types of problems (simple, complicated, complex)
- Problem-Solving models:
- PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
- 5 Whys
- Root Cause Analysis (Fishbone/Ishikawa)
- Activity: Group case study using RCA
Session 4: Reframing Problems Creatively
- Problem framing vs. solution jumping
- “How Might We…” technique
- Lateral thinking (Edward de Bono)
- Activity: Reframe a dull problem into an exciting challenge
Strategic Decision Making & Applied Creative Problem Solving
Session 5: Decision Making Essentials
- Intuitive vs. rational decision making
- Common decision-making biases (confirmation bias, overconfidence, anchoring)
- Risk and uncertainty
- Decision-making styles
- Activity: “Desert Survival” group simulation (decision-making under pressure)
Session 6: Decision Making Tools & Techniques
- SWOT Analysis
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Decision Matrix/Grid
- Activity: Solve a real-world scenario using Decision Matrix
Session 7: Integrating Creativity in Decision Making
- Balancing creativity and logic
- Scenario planning
- Intuition vs. data-driven choices
- Group decision-making dynamics
- Activity: Team challenge – Build a creative solution pitch with decision rationale
Session 8: Applied Problem Solving Lab
- Teams work on a challenge of their choice
- Apply full cycle: creative ideation → analysis → decision-making
- Prepare short presentations
Closing & Reflection
- Team presentations
- Reflection: What will I take away?
- Final Q&A
- Feedback & certificates
Ready to unlock your creativity, solve problems smarter, and make better decisions?
Join us for this powerful 2-day workshop and bring your ideas to life!
